The 9 Best Texturizing Hair Sprays of 2024 for Instant Volume and Tousled Waves
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Spring flat hair back to life.
InStyle / Tamara Staples
Hair is everything—and the difference between a bad hair day and an excellent hair day often comes down to texture. To avoid flat limp strands bringing down your look, consider adding a texturizing spray to your routine. “Texturizing sprays add movement, giving hair a tousled effect,” explains hairstylist Raven Hurtado. Pro hairstylist Raphael Roque agrees. “When you love an undone look or don’t like to wash your hair often but want great volume, texturizing spray is for you,” he says. Plus, they're great products for wavy hair that needs extra definition.
But choose the wrong texture spray and your strands may feel crunchy, sticky, or oily. To help narrow down the best texture sprays for each hair type and need, we spent eight hours individually testing the 22 most popular sprays. Our testers analyzed the performance of each one based on ease of use, texture, volume, and overall look. Ahead, find the 10 texturizing sprays that revitalized our limp strands.
Best Overall: Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray
What We Love
This lightweight spray sops up grease and livens the look of curls, leaving hair looking fresh and voluminous.
What We Don’t Love
It can leave residue on your hands, which can transfer onto surfaces like mirrors or phone screens.
Although most people know the Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray for its addicting scent — which has notes of Italian bergamot, rose, water lily, iris, and musk — the texturizing spray is much more than a hair perfume. It works well for virtually every hair type, but I can’t help but rave about how defined my thin, but plentiful waves looked after spritzing it on. It’s not sticky upon application, but it does have a bit of grit, which I didn’t mind since I expect texturizing sprays to have a little, well, texture. Almost immediately, my greasy, day-two hair was revitalized, and my waves looked more voluminous and mermaid-like.
Keep in mind that the product sits on your fingers after touseling your hair, so be sure to wash your hands immediately after application to avoid it leaving a sticky residue behind on your phone or other surfaces.
Size: 4.5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Italian bergamot, Rose, Water lily, Iris, Musk | Ingredients: Volcanic minerals, Aloe vera leaf extract, Passion flower extract, Mango extract | Hold: Medium
Best Budget: Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Spray Gel
What We Love
For three dollars, this simple mousse offers definition and hydration to lackluster hair.
What We Don’t Love
The nozzle can dispense more than intended.
If your hair needs some TLC but you don’t feel like spending a ton of money, check out the Tousle Me Softly Spray Gel from Herbal Essences. Despite the name, the product is actually more of a hair mousse, according to InStyle tester Oré. “The simple mousse is lightweight, non-sticky, and a little bit goes a long way,” she explains, adding “The foam revived the look of my fine, type four curls without weighing them down.” Thanks to the castor oil in the formula, it doesn’t make hair feel dried out or hard, which the tester especially appreciated. “There was no residue left behind, just moisturized and defined curls,” she adds. “You could follow up by heat styling your hair, but even without heat, the mousse would sit really well with a perm rod.” One thing to note: A lot can come out of the nozzle at once, so be sure to use a light hand when pressing down on it.
Size: 6.8 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Hibiscus | Ingredients: Castor oil | Hold: Medium
Best Splurge: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
What We Love
Not only does this texture spray smell amazing, it gives a volume boost that makes hair look double in size.
What We Don’t Love
The spray bottle takes a few pushes to loosen up.
If you're after volume, this texturizing spray doesn’t disappoint. “The results are immediate: My straight, flat, thin hair doubled in size,” says InStyle tester Oré. “It did exactly what it says it will, which is make hair look noticeably more voluminous without weighing it down.” The application process is essentially the same as other formulas — you just shake, spray, and go on your way. But the Oribe signature complex (a cocktail of ingredients like watermelon, lychee and edelweiss flower) is what delivers such impressive results.
Keep in mind that during the first few uses, the spray bottle might need some loosening up. “The nozzle is a bit difficult to push down on at first, but once you keep pressing, it gets easier,” she adds. Pro stylists, Hurtado and Roque included, love this one, too. “It’s super lightweight and buildable, but never feels sticky,” Hurtado explains. “It’s one of the best in the game and it has a divine smell,” Roque adds.
Size: 8.5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Italian bergamot, Jasmine, Sandalwood | Ingredients: Zeolite, Mango and aloe extracts, Oribe signature complex | Hold: Light
Best Multitasking: Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray
What We Love
This three-in-one finishing spray adds texture, amps up volume, and refreshes dirty hair all at once.
What We Don’t Love
It can feel tacky if you use too much in one area.
Didn’t get the chance to wash your hair and need to look presentable ASAP? The Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray from Drybar will solve your hair blues in a flash. Simply shake the bottle well, and spray a cloud of the fragrant mist onto your lifeless hair. “The more vigorously you shake it, the bigger the cloud of product will be,” says InStyle Maria. “After spritzing it onto my hair, I noticed that it gave my hair more body,” she explains. “It added volume to my roots and gave my curls more bounce and hold, too.” Even after combing her fingers through her hair, it held its shape, resulting in tousled beachy waves. Be aware that if you apply too much in one area, you might find a tacky residue left behind. To avoid that, hold the bottle four to six inches away from your hair when dispensing the product.
Size: 4.2 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Coconut Colada; Blanc (Coconut, Vanilla); Lush (Violet, Sandalwood) | Ingredients: Zeolite| Hold: Light
Best for Thin Hair: R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray
What We Love
Thanks to volume-boosting ingredients, this spray gives thin, limp hair a nice bounce.
What We Don’t Love
We would've liked to see a little more volume in the body of our hair.
Perk up sad hair with this volume-boosting texturizing spray from R + Co. “As soon as I sprayed it on my hair, I noticed a difference — my hair sprung into action,” says InStyle Allison. “It only got better as I styled my hair with a curling iron.” While the volume existed mainly at her roots, the tester notes that after adding the lightweight spray to her hair, the lengths had a nice bounce, too. Unlike some other texturizing sprays, this one has a soft touch, which means it works well to keep flyaways in place, reduce frizz, and provide a light hold.
Like the best shampoos for thinning hair, this one doesn't feature a heavy formula that weighs strands down. “It was so lightweight that I was surprised to find that it added both volume and shine without making my hair look flatter,” she says.
Size: 5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Pineapple, Tangerine, Lavender | Ingredients: Silica, Zeolite, Calendula, Mica | Hold: Light
Best for Thick Hair: Ceremonia Açai Style Refresher
What We Love
This refreshing spray breathes life back into thick hair in between washes.
What We Don’t Love
The thick consistency might weigh down fine hair.
This multipurpose spray has more going for it than its unique spray bottle—although that's certainly a selling point. “The spray bottle on top makes spritzing product on thick strands and curls a lot easier,” one tester explains. “And the handle helps a lot, too. It’s not heavy, so you only need to apply a little pressure to get the product out.” Plus, the spray has various functions: Extend time between wash days by spritzing it on your lengths and scrunching your curls, comb it through the hair to eliminate ponytail creases, and use it as a dry shampoo and scent refresher post-workout.
No matter how you use it, you’ll feel it working its magic. “Most texturizing sprays are either sticky or come out in a mist so fine you can barely tell it’s there,” one tester shares. “As someone with thick hair, I need to feel the product without it weighing my hair down. This one definitely revives hair and makes it look sleek, shiny and almost brand new.”
Size: 6.7 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Açai, Passion fruit | Ingredients: Aloe vera leaf juice, Açai extract, Passion fruit extract, Avocado oil | Hold: Light
Best for Damaged Hair: Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray
What We Love
This argan oil-infused texturizing spray can be used to style carefree waves or prep hair for no-slip updos.
What We Don’t Love
If you use too much, hair can feel sticky and then stiff.
It might sound counterintuitive to apply an oil to greasy, unwashed hair. But, this argan-oil-infused dry texture spray offers a texturized hold with a dry, gritty finish rather than a wet, oily one. In fact, the argan oil boosts hydration and nourishes damaged hair. InStyle tester Austin notes “It was slightly wet and sticky at first, but it dried down quickly and gave my hair more volume." It’s easy to build, so you can layer on as much (or as little) as you need. While it works great to style waves and curls, you can also use it to add grip for no-slip updos, thanks to its formula that contains zeolite, which forms bonds between hair strands.
Size: 5.4 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Amber, Musk, Florals | Ingredients: Argan oil, Zeolite, Hydrolyzed wheat protein | Hold: Medium
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Amika Un.done Volume & Texture Spray
What We Love
This volumizing spray dries down soft so you’ll avoid extra breakage when running a brush (or your fingers) through the lengths.
What We Don’t Love
A little goes a long way, so it’s easy to overdo it.
This texturizing spray is more than just a pretty bottle — it’s color- and keratin-safe and helps prevent breakage. The spray is more powdery than other options we tried, but it’s just as easy to dispense. “A little dab will do — my hair felt great right after applying, despite not washing it for two days,” says InStyle tester Leslie. “It wasn’t stiff or sticky on my hair, either," she adds. "In fact, it was easy to brush through when it dried and I was able to run my hands through my hair without any breakage," she says. In addition to soaking up excess oil and helping refresh unwashed hair, it adds thickness. “It gave my flat, straight hair tons of volume and texture while making my hair smell nice and clean,” says Leslie.
Size: 5.3 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Vanilla, Citrus, Amber | Ingredients: Zeolite, Seabuckthorn berry | Hold: Light
Best Scent: Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist
What We Love
The adorable matte baby pink bottle houses a volume-inducing formula that smells like a garden in the rain.
What We Don’t Love
The nozzle can be hard to press at first.
If the only complaint our tester had about this mist was that the nozzle can be tough at first (fear not, it gets easier to use), then you know it must be good. As the name suggests, the texturizing spray is thin and ‘barely there.’ “It offers a nice texture despite being lightweight, and it does exactly what it says it will,” says InStyle tester Lucy. “My hair wasn’t tacky or stiff and, after a while, I noticed it gave my straight, flat hair a natural wave.” She notes that the volume factor is kind of a lot at first, but that it fell slightly after a few minutes and then looked more natural as time went on. “Even later in the day, my hair looked ten times more voluminous,” she says. The fresh fragrance only adds to the experience, due to an addictive blend of frankincense, juniper wood, and water lily.
Size: 8.7 fl. oz.| Fragrance: Frankincense, Juniper wood, Water lily | Ingredients: Silica, Silicone | Hold: Light
What to Keep in Mind
Hair Type: According to Hurtado, most texturizing sprays are universal for all hair types. “Texturizing sprays in general work great if your hair is fine or straight because it adds volume and texture,” she explains. “If you have curls and they’re feeling flat, you can use a texturizing spray to give each one a lift.” While any texture spray can work, a general rule of thumb to follow is that if you have thick or dry hair, a texturizing spray that adds hydration. Alternatively, if you have fine hair, a lightweight formula is best so your hair doesn’t get weighed down. Those with color-treated hair should look for spray options that protect color and don’t leave behind unwanted residue.
Ingredients: Keep an eye on the ingredients list when you’re shopping for the best texturizing spray. Look for at least one moisturizing ingredient, like argan oil or avocado oil, and one texturizing ingredient, which will often be sea salt. If your hair is thick or has a coarse texture, you’ll want to double down on natural oils. Meanwhile, someone with fine, limp hair will want to ensure their texture spray has volumizing ingredients that absorb oil.
Fragrance: Many texturizing sprays (and other hair products, for that matter) come loaded with fragrance. While some people are all for a scent, others find fragrance irritating, especially if they’re allergic or sensitive to it. If you’re in the latter category, check to see if the texturizing spray you’re interested in has a fragrance before making a purchase.
Size: Keep in mind that when using a texturizing spray, you’ll need at least four to six spritzes to style your entire head. So, in order to get the most use out of your texture spray, opt for a product that comes in a large size, otherwise you might run out after a couple of uses.
Your Questions, Answered
What is a texturizing spray?
According to Roque, a texturizing spray is a combination of a classic hairspray and a dry shampoo. “It holds like a hairspray, but gives more texture and volume and, like a dry shampoo, removes oil from the scalp,” he explains. These types of sprays can be used by people of all hair types to create extra body, add texture, and provide a bit of hold.
How do you apply texturizing spray?
To apply texture spray to dry hair, hold the can 6 to 10 inches away from your head. Lift a section of your hair and spray product from root to tip. You can boost volume by flipping your head upside-down and spraying in short bursts at the root. Just be sure when using a texturizing product, such as sea salt spray, not to use too much to leave hair feeling crunchy.
How does a texturizing spray differ from hairspray or dry shampoo?
Texturizing sprays, shine sprays, hairsprays, and dry shampoos are all used for styling, but each one serves a different purpose. “A hairspray holds your hair in place, while a dry shampoo freshens your scalp,” Roque explains. “A texturizing spray is the best of both worlds because it does a little bit of both.”
Should you use a texturizing spray on wet or dry hair?
You should ultimately default to the directions on the specific product you have, but since texturizing spray is a styling product, typically it should be used once the hair is dry. But, there are some products that are best used on damp hair prior to drying.
Why Shop With Us
Caitlyn Martyn is a former commerce writer for InStyle, where she covered skincare, makeup, hair, and fashion. With expert insight from professional hairstylists and tester first-hand experience, she poured over product specifications and rounded up our top picks for this story. Caitlyn has experience researching, testing and writing about beauty products and has tried tons of different texturizing sprays, including several from the above brands, including OUAI, Oribe, and Briogeo.
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